Hotel, hospital workers unite!

The working class stands up to management tonight in Providence as two groups of employees – one unionized, the other not yet – will protest outside their places of employment.

Hospital employees and SEIU members will be calling attention to job cuts at Women and Infants today at 4:15. “Despite budget surpluses, senior managers Care New England are attempting to cut corners and compromise patient safety by laying off housekeeping, lab, and clinical staff,” said Patrick Quinn of the SEIU.

“Management’s plan to cut staff will mean hospital rooms are cleaned less frequently and increase the risk of infections which compromises patient safety,” said Sukie Ream a labor delivery room nurse. “Layoffs to clinical and lab staff could delay delivery of lab results which is not fair to patients.”

And in downtown Providence, Renaissance Hotel workers will march there at 5 pm to call attention to the federal health and safety violations the hotel was recently fined $8,000 for According to a press release, “The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited the Renaissance for serious violations, finding, amongst other violations, that “’employees’ hands, arms and faces were routinely exposed to corrosive and irritating chemicals.’”

Hotel housekeeper Santo Brito said, “Management has claimed that there is no safety problem, but the Federal investigation showed differently. Hotel management allowed these dangerous conditions to exist because workers have no voice at the Hotel. I am proud the workers stood up to stop this. The hazardous use of chemicals in the hotel caused us workers all kinds of physical suffering, from bad rashes all over our arms to frequent sickness.”